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Redskins still searching for return specialists

Longtime Redskins kickoff returner Rock Cartwright and veteran punt returner Antwaan Randle El were among 10 players released just hours before the start of the NFL's free agent signing period.

To this point in free agency, the Redskins have not signed specialists to replace Cartwright and Randle El. The team could move to fill those roles in the draft, or seek in-house options.

Regardless of who coached the team this season, the Redskins were expected to release Cartwright, who was due a base salary of $1.5 million. Even Cartwright acknowledged the Redskins were not likely to pay him that much, and the former team captain saw the handwriting on the wall when wide receiver Devin Thomas received reps on kickoff returns last season.

Thomas averaged 22 yards on 20 returns. He had long gain of 39 yards and 13 returns of at least 20 yards. As a senior at Michigan State, Thomas had a 29.1-yard average, ranking 11th in the nation.

Apparently, Coach Mike Shanahan believes Thomas, who finished last season as the starting Z receiver, might be the right guy for the full-time kickoff job.

"Devin Thomas could be our best returner. Obviously, he's starting at both positions [wide receiver and kickoff returner] right now," Shanahan said. "Will he continue to be that guy? I really don't know. I'm looking forward to going into these minicamps and get a chance to evaluate our guys and some of the guys we've got targeted in the draft."

The Cowboys have used nine draft picks on offensive linemen since 2000, and Andre Gurode is the only quality player in the bunch.

There have been colossal busts such as Jacob Peterson, a second-round pick in 2004, and others such as Doug Free, a fourth-round pick in 2007, who has developed more slowly than hoped.

Jerry Jones has no problem admitting his frustration with the Cowboys' failure to develop offensive linemen, especially since he has spent a chunk of the family fortune to sign free agents Marc Colombo, Leonard Davis, Kyle Kosier and Marco Rivera to long-term deals over the last few seasons.

That's not a good way to consistently conduct business.

Perhaps the key to success rests with Stephen Peterman, a third-round pick in 2004. He has started 27 games for Detroit the last two seasons.

Peterman is an average player. You can win with average guards, although we all know the Lions went winless last season. A lot of teams sign average guards. And it's even easier if you have average guards lining up next to a star center.

Maybe Jones was spoiled by the success of the early '90s, believing he needed a line filled with stars. Sometimes, the running back or quarterback has to make a play when there's a breakdown.

There just isn't much talent left at the OT positions available in UFA. There is a bit in RFA, but the REDSKINS would pay dearly in draft picks to sign one. There doesn't seem to be much activity in that area league-wide. Of course, the FA season is still young.

Blame television for Duke's being given a No. 1 seed. In an effort to hoodwink a TV network into again overpaying for the Big Dance, the NCAA is considering expanding the tourney to 96 teams. So it's only logical that the selection committee provided the Blue Devils -- tournament-chokers for most of the last decade -- a relative cakewalk to the Final Four. Duke, the alleged third No. 1 seed, is in the bracket with the weakest No. 2 (Villanova) and No. 3 (Baylor) and No. 4 (Purdue).
Kansas City Star

Posted by: cliftonbiz | March 27, 2010 12:57 PM |

Kansas lost to Norther Iowa a powerhouse in Basketball, Syracuse lost to Butler a good team but should not be able to beat a Big East powerhouse.

If you look at the top 4 in each bracket, Dukes region was the only one to have 3 out of the 4 make it to the sweet 16 sounds like the other brackets had weaker top 4's to me.

But you keep crying little baby!!!!!!

Posted by: Flounder21 | March 27, 2010 1:47 PM

==================
After watching Duke for, admittedly the first time last night,...anyone else notice the lack of diversity on the team?
Thought I was watching old NBA clips from the 60's.

DEVIN HESTER YOU ARE RIDICULOUS! you can't spell devin hester without deserve and devin hester deserves it all, including a starting spot with the redskins. trade haynesworth and fourth pick 4 hester. and let hester wear #4. just to let the haterz know. q from pg.

It's a different NFL now and recent/constant rule changes have favored the QB.

Posted by: Vicc | March 27, 2010 2:50 PM

Maybe so, but the basics haven't changed. There are still 21 other guys on the team with major roles to play. Otherwise, Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson wouldn't be wearing SB rings. Brad Johnson was lucky enough to get away from a dysfunctional franchise and go to one where he didn't have to carry the team.

"I get what you're saying 4th. If the NFL was a factory and 65% of the employees working the line were African American but a significantly smaller percentage (22%?) were employed as supervisors, we'd all agree that there's a racial disparity. But for some reason people can't see the same disparity in the NFL."

Maybe so, but the basics haven't changed. There are still 21 other guys on the team with major roles to play. Otherwise, Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson wouldn't be wearing SB rings. Brad Johnson was lucky enough to get away from a dysfunctional franchise and go to one where he didn't have to carry the team.

Posted by: Alan4 | March 27, 2010 3:11 PM

`

I totally agree Alan4. Football IS a team game. Brad and Trent needed the best defense in the league to win the Superbowl.

Brad and Trent were not regular fixtures in the playoffs, however, which is why no1 will ever mistake them for being great QBs.

caucasians are the minority in big college b-ball. A team fielding many of said race doesn't mean anything in and of itself. My favorite college b-ball team, Georgetown, has a mostly white enrollment, nearly all memebers of the b-ball team are dark skinned.

The players in bold/italic are the players who have not started or made a significant impact on their teams. Out of the 30 lineman drafted in the first round over the last eight years, only seven of them haven’t started or made an impact with their squad. That’s it—seven.

Many of those guys above are Pro Bowlers. From that list, I’d suggest that if you’re a team that needs to improve their offensive line, you draft one in the first round because that’s a 77 percent success rate, which I believe is higher than any other position."

Reading those PFT posts about McNabb to the Raiders... Boy wouldn't it be great if we traded JC to them for CB Nnamdi Asomugha. I don't see why Crazy Al wouldn't want JC, he can throw far, which is all Al wants. Then we get a legit FS and we've probably got a sick D. Even sicker if we end up taking one of the monster DT's at #4 (not that that's what we need the most at that slot).

After watching Duke for, admittedly the first time last night,...anyone else notice the lack of diversity on the team?
Thought I was watching old NBA clips from the 60's.

Posted by: SkinsneedaGM

I was thinking the exact opposite. The team fields a bunch of white guys who are the severe minority in the sport. They don't need the rooney rule.

Posted by: 1965skinsfan | March 27, 2010 3:11 PM
==============
ummmm, have you read the Rooney rule? It has its place, it works and is still needed.

Posted by: SkinsneedaGM | March 27, 2010 3:19 PM
===========
I would bet if you took the list of the top 50 High School basketball prospects in North Carolina, you could guess quickly who gets recruited by what college.

totally agree Alan4. Football IS a team game. Brad and Trent needed the best defense in the league to win the Superbowl.

Brad and Trent were not regular fixtures in the playoffs, however, which is why no1 will ever mistake them for being great QBs.

Posted by: Vicc | March 27, 2010 3:14 PM

Good, so we have common ground. My goal is to see the Skins win some Super Bowls. I don't care if they have a "great" QBs or not. Dan Marino was a great QB. Phillip Rivers is on his way to being a great QB.

Reading those PFT posts about McNabb to the Raiders... Boy wouldn't it be great if we traded JC to them for CB Nnamdi Asomugha. I don't see why Crazy Al wouldn't want JC, he can throw far, which is all Al wants. Then we get a legit FS and we've probably got a sick D. Even sicker if we end up taking one of the monster DT's at #4 (not that that's what we need the most at that slot).

Posted by: Oogalaboogala | March 27, 2010 3:25 PM

Who else are you going into that trade? Or maybe you can give them FedEx Stadium to even it out. Al would love a new crib. Al is crazy but he ain't KUH-RAAAAAAAAZ-EEEE!!!!!

Reading those PFT posts about McNabb to the Raiders... Boy wouldn't it be great if we traded JC to them for CB Nnamdi Asomugha. I don't see why Crazy Al wouldn't want JC, he can throw far, which is all Al wants. Then we get a legit FS and we've probably got a sick D. Even sicker if we end up taking one of the monster DT's at #4 (not that that's what we need the most at that slot).

Posted by: Oogalaboogala | March 27, 2010 3:25 PM

Who else are you going to throw into that trade? Or maybe you can give them FedEx Stadium to even it out. Al would love a new crib. Al is crazy but he ain't KUH-RAAAAAAAAZ-EEEE!!!!!

"From that list, I’d suggest that if you’re a team that needs to improve their offensive line, you draft one in the first round because that’s a 77 percent success rate, which I believe is higher than any other position."

Two things you didn't mention. First, there are three offensive line positions, not one. Second, you didn't define your parameters very clearly -- "started or made a significant impact" is too broad.

You also don't compare the success rate of, say, tackles taken in the first round with tackles taken in the second, third, fourth rounds, etc., to support your thesis that an investment of a first rounder is the best choice. There are also a number of undrafted free agents who 'started or made a significant impact' as offensive linemen in the NFL -- you have to account for them, too. For instance, Indy's starting offensive line in the Super Bowl was composed largely of second day draft choices and free agents.

If you recall the mighty Hogs, they were a mixture of high, mid, and low round draft choices along with a couple of undrafted guys (Joe Jacoby).

When you go to prove a thesis, you have to consider other factors than the ones that support your beliefs.

"Reading those PFT posts about McNabb to the Raiders... Boy wouldn't it be great if we traded JC to them for CB Nnamdi Asomugha."

Nnamdi is going to be very difficult to trade, to anybody. It's the contract. There's an enormous payment coming due and the player goes into next season with an assurance that his salary will be adjusted upwards until he's one the five highest paid players in the game.

I would bet if you took the list of the top 50 High School basketball prospects in North Carolina, you could guess quickly who gets recruited by what college.

Posted by: SkinsneedaGM | March 27, 2010 3:32 PM |

flounder wrote..
Get over yuorself dumba$$ the majority of College basketball teams and Pro teams are African american.

What team do you like do they have a perfect racial balance for you?

Posted by: Flounder21 | March 27, 2010 3:46 PM
==========
??????? what??
To give you the benefit of the doubt, maybe you misread my posting.. Like others on this blog have also said, I stated that it was DUKE that is disproportionate.
That was my point exactly...that the "majority of College basketball teams and Pro teams are African American". Yet Duke, a top 8 team in the country, shows a glaring disparity in this proportion.

My original posting..

"After watching Duke for, admittedly the first time last night,...anyone else notice the lack of diversity on the team?
Thought I was watching old NBA clips from the 60's."

??????? what??
To give you the benefit of the doubt, maybe you misread my posting.. Like others on this blog have also said, I stated that it was DUKE that is disproportionate.
That was my point exactly...that the "majority of College basketball teams and Pro teams are African American". Yet Duke, a top 8 team in the country, shows a glaring disparity in this proportion.

My original posting..

"After watching Duke for, admittedly the first time last night,...anyone else notice the lack of diversity on the team?
Thought I was watching old NBA clips from the 60's."

Posted by: SkinsneedaGM

Posted by: SkinsneedaGM | March 27, 2010 4:00 PM |

And my point is who gives a F-ck do they win, because thats all that matters. have you investigated the reasons for who Duke recruits and who they don't.

If Dukes racial makeup bothers you, then it is you that has a problem with race not Duke.

??????? what??
To give you the benefit of the doubt, maybe you misread my posting.. Like others on this blog have also said, I stated that it was DUKE that is disproportionate.
That was my point exactly...that the "majority of College basketball teams and Pro teams are African American". Yet Duke, a top 8 team in the country, shows a glaring disparity in this proportion.

My original posting..

"After watching Duke for, admittedly the first time last night,...anyone else notice the lack of diversity on the team?
Thought I was watching old NBA clips from the 60's."

Posted by: SkinsneedaGM

Posted by: SkinsneedaGM | March 27, 2010 4:00 PM |

And my point is who gives a F-ck do they win, because thats all that matters. have you investigated the reasons for who Duke recruits and who they don't.

If Dukes racial makeup bothers you, then it is you that has a problem with race not Duke.

Posted by: Flounder21 | March 27, 2010 4:07 PM
===================

and thus, because of such thinking, the Rooney rule was needed and works well to eventually evolve a balance to a once glaring disparity.

(replace the word "Duke" with "NFL Head Coaching" in your last sentence.)

Teaser: "There have been some very good first-round quarterbacks since 1992 -- Drew Bledsoe, Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb and Steve McNair -- and a host of other soild signal callers. However, the number of busts is astounding. Dave Klinger, Jim Druckenmiller, Heath Shuler, Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith and Cade McNown have combined for just 67 career touchdown passes while throwing 126 interceptions."

Since this article was written, here are the remaining 1st round QBs to date:

The players in bold/italic are the players who have not started or made a significant impact on their teams. Out of the 30 lineman drafted in the first round over the last eight years, only seven of them haven’t started or made an impact with their squad. That’s it—seven.

Many of those guys above are Pro Bowlers. From that list, I’d suggest that if you’re a team that needs to improve their offensive line, you draft one in the first round because that’s a 77 percent success rate, which I believe is higher than any other position."

`

I still want the 'Skins to take Okung with the 4th pick.

Posted by: Vicc

which is why I've been about picking OL. For whatever reason, NFL scouts have a much better understanding of what a successful OL looks like compared to what a successful QB looks like coming out of college.

and thus, because of such thinking, the Rooney rule was needed and works well to eventually evolve a balance to a once glaring disparity.

(replace the word "Duke" with "NFL Head Coaching" in your last sentence.)

Posted by: SkinsneedaGM | March 27, 2010 4:17 PM |

You are a complete idiot,comparing NFL coaching hirings to Duke basketball. Did it ever occur to you that maybe the White guys that Duke recruits, don't get heavly recruited by other big time schools because there white.

Not ever player Duke recruits goes to Duke, they have lost out on several african american recruits.

Before you point a racist finger at Duke lets look at Georgetown, here is an easy question in the last 30 years how many white guys have played in a game for Georgtown? My guess would be no more then 3 probably less. Who has more titles out of the two teams I guess race is not that big of a deal.

Before you point a racist finger at Duke lets look at Georgetown, here is an easy question in the last 30 years how many white guys have played in a game for Georgtown? My guess would be no more then 3 probably less. Who has more titles out of the two teams I guess race is not that big of a deal.

Posted by: Flounder21 | March 27, 2010 4:34 PM
=====================
Who has and who doesnt have Titles has nothing to do with racial disparity.

If you look at the makeup of the NBA and compare to Div 1 basketball.. Georgetown is much more proportionate than Duke.

Look at the other final 8 teams makeup and then Duke.. The disparity is glaring.

Unless they upgrade at receiver there is no reason to let Moss return punts. Why would you have your best receiver return punts? What happens if he gets hurt? Zorn did not make very many good decisions during his tenure but I think that was one of them.

If you look at the makeup of the NBA and compare to Div 1 basketball.. Georgetown is much more proportionate than Duke.

Look at the other final 8 teams makeup and then Duke.. The disparity is glaring.

Posted by: SkinsneedaGM

more like the other mostly dark skinned players? wtf is your problem dude? You want Duke to be all dark skiined to mirror the NBA and Div 1? Why? The country at large isn't that way.That's why I said before the disparity truly lies at the feet of the schools not playing enough caucasians if you want to judge by race. I for one do not. Can we get on with the race mixing so that we are all one race already? I'm so sick of this racial bs.

Reading those PFT posts about McNabb to the Raiders... Boy wouldn't it be great if we traded JC to them for CB Nnamdi Asomugha. I don't see why Crazy Al wouldn't want JC, he can throw far, which is all Al wants. Then we get a legit FS and we've probably got a sick D. Even sicker if we end up taking one of the monster DT's at #4 (not that that's what we need the most at that slot).

Posted by: Oogalaboogala

Oh this makes tons of sense. We would have a DB nobody throws at but NO QB and NO O line. We had a good defense last season - where did that get us?

Race?! Really?! Why is this even a topic here? Race is just a genetic difference. Whether someone plays or coaches a team should only be based on A) the talent the individual brings to their respective position, B) how they will represent the team they are associated with, and C) whether they will compliment the team chemistry - will they help the team to synergistically grow?

Why is this country so concerned with the pigmentation of someone's skin? You either have talent or you suck...plain and simple.

Racial ignorance draws me in. I guess like a car wreck I rubber neck. I don't always dive in as you suggest, only when I'm not playing with my children or working or watching paint dry. Today is your lucky day I suppose. good question though Mack.

Then all of the sudden Tony Romo steps in and...the Cowboys have been winning ever since.

Posted by: Vicc

I have to admit, from the first time Romo stepped in, he looked like the perfect NFC East chaos-manager, making great plays out of broken ones..McNabb is great at this also, Eli is Rypien behind a vaunted Giants line..And we know well about our beloved Campbell...

"For whatever reason, NFL scouts have a much better understanding of what a successful OL looks like compared to what a successful QB looks like coming out of college."

The reason lies with the complexity of the position and the speed of the game.

Each quarterback in the draft can throw well enough to play in the NFL.

But how do you know if a guy can process the layers of responsibilities that are required to run an an NFL offense?

There's no drill or stopwatch you can use to measure that.

Posted by: MistaMoe | March 27, 2010 5:12 PM
======================
also I think the lean towards risky QB picks in the 1st are because GMs see it as a safe value position pick. Sorta like the old saying in IT.. "no one gets fired for buying IBM". If you have a bust as a QB.. you're less likely to be on the hot seat as a GM than if you have a bust at a non-skilled position like OLine..

Brady Quinn can be considered a 1st round bust but he still had trade value.. Mike Williams, OT an early 1st round pick in 02..was a bust and had no value for Buffalo in a trade or such....

According to the California Highway Patrol, Joey was driving in a Taco Bell parking lot in Bakersfield -- his home town -- when a friend of Joey's was was stopped by police.

According to officials, Porter pulled up near the action - too close apparently -- because a CHP officer rolled over to his car, where he detected the smell of alcohol coming from Porter's car.

Cops say the officer asked for Porter's driver's license, but he refused to hand it over. ... instead, officials say, the 33-year-old tried to roll up his window.

Cops say the officer tried to reach in the car to manually unlock the car -- and that's when Porter "slapped" the officer's hand away.

According to the CHP, the officer decided to grab Porter's arm -- and that's when things got crazy. Porter allegedly got out of his car "in a confrontational manner."

The officer claims he drew his pistol and ordered Porter to the ground, but he wouldn't comply -- though he did ultimately agree to place his hands behind his head.

Additional officers were called to the scene to aid in the arrest. Porter was eventually taken in to custody and booked at a nearby jail. He was eventually charged with 3 misdemeanors -- DUI, resisting arrest and assault on a peace officer.

Porter recently signed a big fat contract with the Cardinals -- reportedly worth $17.5 million for 3 years.

Sounds like the beginning of the worst blues song ever. And if you're so sick of it, why do you always dive right in?

Posted by: mack1

Blues came from heartfelt pain of slavery and sharecroppin', brought about because transplanted Euros to America couldn't enslave the Indians and were too Euro-bourgie to do the dirty work necessary for true survivalist independence, so they paid for slaves stolen from Africa, who mostly knew already how to subsistence-farm...Their physical "survival of the fittest" in Africa more than prepared them for "The Playing Fields Of Eton" and beyond...

Well if Arenas got 30 days for pointing a gun at someone, I guess Porter's penalty will be somewhere between a tickle fight and a couple hours in a class to learn how to stay the F%$K away from cops when he is drunk and its not him that they are after. Glad we didn't get him. Just what we need is another egotistical idiot who thinks he is above reproach.

How much is the GM to blame and how much are the scouts to blame? I know the GM ultimately signs off on it but if the Bucs had crappy scouts and we have good scouts how much of a concern is this really? I'm not concerned.

I think he's done a good job identifying FA that work well in the systems the Skins want to run. I also think he's handle the salary structure of the Skins. I think he'll do a good job with the draft as well.

I'm so tired of him shoving how smart he is down our throats. Every time he talks or his name is brought up its…I’m a Rhodes Scholar and I'm going to be a doctor after football. I heard that he asked before the Wonderlic Test was given that he wanted to discuss the relevance of Pi and some player told him to STFU.

Seriously, it’s ok to be smart, but keep it to yourself. The last thing we would want on our team is a guy who is notorious for his IQ, especially since there are a lot of players that would be offended and would rather stay stupid.

The freaking nerve of this guy to be articulate, not talk in cliques, and insult us all with his intelligence. No wonder RedDMV has such a problem with him.

Is Bruce Allen up to the challenge of changing directions in Washington?

Well see. Im not drinking the kool aid yet. Im not terribly impressed or disappointed by anything Allen or Shanahan has done so far. Releasing veterans like ARE and Rock is something that Vinny probably would have done. Painting the weight room doesnt change a team. Im curious to see what they do in the draft and how they finish building the D before I cosign. Im definitely glad that Vinny's gone but lets get a season in before we give them a pat on the back. I think our situation is reminiscent of Dallas a few years back. They brought in Parcells and he had some success but he wasnt able to completely turn it around. I think Grimm would have been a better hire but Shanahan will be able to at least get this team back to respectability.

Cincinnati's Gilyard is a dope wide receiver who did well at the combine, and a fierce kick returner..

Posted by: frak |

If the skins can trade down with their #4 and pick up some extra 3rd rounders, I'd go for him--if he's there . He could be the next DeSean Jackson, or could be too thin. Skins have otherr needs that must be addressed.

Devin Thomas is solid enough that the team doesn't need to rush out and draft a return specialist. I'd like to see Alridge grow into the role because of his speed but the dude has got a bad case of the fumbles. I am sure there will be some undrafted free agents getting plenty of looks and there may be a diamond somewhere in the rough.

If you are the Shanahan's, you have to ask yourself if S Moss still dynamic enough to be in that group, or is it time for the '08 receivers to be showcased enough to measure if any of them are ready to join it.

I say get Thomas, Kelly, Mitchell, and Davis the ball: it's time for those guys to 'step up' and assume a strong role with the offense.

The future is now, son.

And as for S Moss?: he's a fast guy who should be in the slot and returning punts.

Joey Porter and his excellent contribution to football professionalism! God I'm glad we passed on this bass whole.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Authorities say Arizona Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter has been arrested in Bakersfield on suspicion of drunken driving and accused of assaulting an officer and resisting arrest.

The California Highway Patrol says the 33-year-old player was confronted by officers early Saturday in a fast-food parking lot.

Porter refused to provide his driver's license and began to roll up his window when asked to leave the car. Police say that when an officer reached to unlock the door Porter slapped the officer's hand.

Porter eventually got out and complied with orders, placing his hands behind his back. He and a passenger were arrested.

The 11-year veteran recently signed with the Cardinals. He also has played for Pittsburgh and Miami.

Joey Porter was arrested for DUI? The front office looks better and better with each passing week.

Posted by: BacktoGlory | March 28, 2010 2:30 AM

The two-year stint in Tampa was not without complications. At the NFL Scouting Combine in 2005, Morris and Shanahan had a late-night encounter with police. Kyle, 25 at the time, was arrested for public intoxication -- he said at the time he was defending Morris -- but ultimately was released and faced no charges.

Don't be so quick to judge others like
J Porter until you take a deeper look around.

all institutions in america are racist because whites set it up that way long ago and still standing, while america is crumbling. many of you here lie and pretend you don't see but you KNOW. duke is racist,penn,havard,yale etc. it is a part of YOUR legacy like the kkk, nazi,fascist, bigots,luciferians,skin heads and now your tea-baggers etc. you are what you are.